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Nuclear Medicine at RMIT University
If you are interested in a career in the health sector, with direct patient care involving hi-tech 3D medical imaging plus the preparation and dispensing of targeted drugs for imaging and treatment of disease, then consider enrolling in one of the Nuclear Medicine programs at RMIT University.
Both the Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiations) nuclear medicine stream and the graduate entry coursework Masters in Nuclear medicine are boutique applied science programs, in which 100 percent of graduates gain paid internships following graduation.
What is Nuclear Medicine Science?
A Nuclear Medicine Scientist is a health professional trained in the delivery and development of patient services utilising radiopharmaceuticals or other medical radiations. This involves the imaging and measurement of physiological processes both in the patient and in the laboratory.
A Nuclear Medicine Scientist acquires and analyses qualitative and quantitative data to facilitate medical diagnosis and treatment and administers treatment by prescription.
Nuclear Medicine is one of the three streams in the Discipline of Medical Radiations, alongside Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.
Why RMIT?
Nuclear Medicine is a relatively small profession with only 5 programs available throughout Australia. RMIT University has the longest standing nuclear medicine program in Australia and is the only institution that has a choice of either an undergraduate degree or a graduate entry coursework masters program. In addition it is proud to have a record whereby 100 percent of graduates obtain an intern position following graduation.
Career outcomes
Most RMIT graduates find employment in Nuclear Medicine Centres in University teaching Hospitals, District hospitals or Private Radiology practices throughout Melbourne or any state in Australia. However, the RMIT degree provides many other career opportunities in the wider medical radiations industry in Australia or Overseas. The degree is also an excellent stepping stone to other health sector professions such as medicine.
Past graduates of our program are working in nuclear medicine centres in London, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Others work in radiopharmacies or in sales or management for imaging companies such as Siemens, GE or Philips. Other graduates have moved on to study medicine at other universities such as the graduate medical program at the University of Sydney.
What you'll be studying
As an applied science degree, the nuclear medicine programs at RMIT have both medical science coursework mixed with 20+ weeks of clinical placement. The medical science component features courses in anatomy, physiology and imaging pathology, plus medical radiations sciences such as magnetic resonance imaging & computed tomography. There is also comprehensive coverage of nuclear medicine science featuring biochemistry, pharmacology, radiopharmacy, nuclear cardiology, renal nuclear medicine, SPECT, positron emission tomography and radionuclide cancer therapy.
Over the course of the degree, students have approximately 4 placements of 4-6 weeks at different nuclear medicine centres. Placements are usually located in Victoria but overseas placements in NZ, Canada, USA, UK and Hong Kong are also available. A unique feature of the final year of the nuclear medicine program is the nuclear medicine research project, where every student completes an individualised research project for presentation at a student symposium. Many student projects are also submitted to the national conference of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Nuclear Medicine.
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